- Washington mandates retailers to charge fees for reusable bags to reduce single-use plastics
- From October 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025, the fee is 8 cents per reusable bag
- Starting January 1, 2026, plastic bag fees increase to 12 cents, paper bag fees remain at 8 cents
- Fees must be itemized on customer receipts and are subject to B&O and Retail Sales Tax
- Fees do not need to be remitted to the state
- Customers using benefits from programs like WIC, SNAP, TAN, and FAP are exempt from bag fees
- Food banks and food assistance programs are exempt from collecting the fee
- Retailers should prepare for 2026 changes in plastic bag fees and thickness requirements to ensure compliance
Source: salestaxinstitute.com
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
